Many thanks to Ignatius Insight Scoop for providing the link to this wonderful article from Touchstone Magazine entitled, “Children of the Reformation: A Short and Surprising History of Protestantism and Contraception.”
Most people I have the opportunity to discuss these sorts of issues with have absolutely no idea that the ENTIRE Christian Church — Catholic and Protestant — were completely against all forms of contraception until the early part of the 20th century. It should be frightening to all that someone could look at the entire history of the Church and decide to change direction and go a completely different way.
Take a brief look at how even the Reformers looked at contraception:
Luther sharply condemned the contraceptive mentality that was alive and well in his own time. He noted that this “inhuman attitude, which is worse than barbarous,” was found chiefly among the wellborn, “the nobility and princes.” Elsewhere, he linked both contraception and abortion to selfishness:
How great, therefore, the wickedness of [fallen] human nature is! How many girls there are who prevent conception and kill and expel tender fetuses, although procreation is the work of God! Indeed, some spouses who marry and live together . . . have various ends in mind, but rarely children.
Ladybug Mommy Maria
I’m soooo glad you posted this!
Thank you1
Ouiz
Isn’t that an interesting article? I knew the basic history, but to have so many quotes from the reformers right there in one place…
Leticia
I have been saving the same link to post on it sometime, thanks for posting on it and giving me a nudge!